The Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) was introduced in July 2022 to recognise the generosity of people who have opened their homes to provide accommodation to Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) arriving in Ireland from Ukraine. The ARP is paid at the rate of €800 per month per property with a unique Eircode (vacant or shared). The scheme is provided for under Part 2 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection on behalf of my Department.
I am informed by the Department of Social Protection that:
• as of 17 December 2023, 12,201 hosts were awarded an ARP claim with 9,794 in payment on that date.
• as of 14 April 2024, 14,547 hosts were awarded an ARP claim with 12,063 in payment on that date.
Hosting arrangements under this scheme differ from rental arrangements. Availing of the scheme does not create a landlord and tenant relationship between a host and the BOTP who is living in the accommodation and it does not create an automatic right to tenancy. Where a rental agreement is in place, the ARP is not payable.
The statistical information that the Deputy has requested is not available. Details of the accommodation type (vacant or shared) and previous residence of the beneficiary are not collected as part of the scheme’s application process.
